ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1.Operate an HeO2 compressor/hand-booster pump

1.1 Compressor and associated equipment are inspected for serviceability.

1.2 Protective equipment is fitted.

1.3 Leads and hoses are connected to the compressor.

1.4 Gas cylinders are charged to maximum working.

1.5 Operator level maintenance is performed on the compressor.

1.6 Compressor is de-serviced after use.

2. Conduct dive operations

2.1 CCBA (HeO2) is selected, inspected for serviceability, and fitted and tested (both out of water and in-water).

2.2 Dives are conducted using CCBA (HeO2) and dive contingencies are demonstrated.

2.3 Mid-water casualty handover is conducted between an HeO2 standby diver and an air standby diver.

2.4 CCBA (HeO2) is de-serviced and defects are reported in accordance with organisational procedures.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

conduct buddy breathing

conduct ditching drills

conduct lost buddy drills

conduct unconscious companion diver drills

conduct standby diver drills

fit and check CCBA (HeO2)

identify distress and illness in others at depth

inspect and prepare CCBA (HeO2)

monitor CCBA (HeO2) equipment and gauges

recover and clear mask and mouthpiece

refurbish CCBA (HeO2) post-dive

Required Knowledge

CCBA (HeO2) dive equipment characteristics and limitations

CCBA (HeO2) characteristics and limitations

dive physics

dive physiology and medicine

general occupational/diving safety awareness

hazards of Heliox

marine animal threats

marine hazards

oceanography

relevant references and Australian Standards

safe operating ranges for air-supplies

standby diver responsibilities

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

arrange for others to check equipment

conduct in-water checks

handle non-functional equipment items

prepare equipment for the dive including charging of cylinders

maintain equipment during the dive

refurbish equipment post-dive

recover and clear mask and mouthpiece

safely enter and exit the water appropriate to the launch platform, equipment and conditions

switch from primary to the reserve air system

implement contingency and emergency drills such as:

ditching drills

buddy breathing

unconscious companion diver drills

HeO2/air standby diver mid-water casualty handover drill.

Consistency in performance

Competency will be demonstrated over a minimum of 4 dives with the diver diving to a depth not greater than 60 m using CCBA (HeO2) in open water that includes the following requirements:

oceans, seas, lakes and rivers

day and night

sub-surface conditions:

a range of surface and sub-surface hazards

current (0–2 knots)

temperature (0 degrees +)

visibility (0 metre +)

Table 1 (below) outlines the minimum dives required by this Unit of Competency.

Table 1

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency will be assessed in the ocean over a range of oceanic, diurnal and nocturnal environments, supported by questioning on shore or aboard vessels.

When practicable, assessment should relate to the diver’s vocational focus.

Specific resources for assessment

Access to complete range of CCBA (HeO2) diving, safety and accessory equipment.

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Open water environment may include:

day or night

oceans, seas, lakes and rivers

subsurface conditions:

current (0–2 knots)

visibility (0 metre +)

temperature (0 degrees +)

surface and subsurface hazards such as:

anchor drop zones

cathodic protection devices

electrical cabling

inlets and sonar/radio frequency hazards

marine animals

piers and jetties

pipelines

pollutants

propellers/thrusters

trapping hazards:

beams

culverts

gates

grottoes and caves

intakes and outfalls

nets

safety, anchor and communications lines

sewers

submerged ships, vehicles and structures

sluices

vessel rocking and associated movement

Associated equipment may include:

hoses

pumps

Protective equipment may include:

gloves

goggles

CCBA (HeO2) may include:

counter-lung

emergency cylinder

facemask /mouthpiece

HeO2 cylinder

scrubber material

Operator level maintenance may include:

checking existing pressure in cylinders with pressure gauge

conducting charging in (HeO2) clean environment

following correct charging procedure and charging rate operating high pressure charging panels

Dive contingencies may include:

buddy breathing

companion diver

flooded mask

fouled supply

hose blockage/choking

hose rupture

partial pressure anomalies

set to 40 bar

trouble drill